Contact Energy and CDC explore 250MW Stratford data centre
Contact Energy and CDC Data Centres are exploring the development of a 250MW data center in Stratford, New Zealand, leveraging local renewable energy resources. The project aims to combine digital infrastructure with sustainable power, though no final construction commitment has been made.
Why it matters
Highlights the growing intersection of renewable energy infrastructure and the high power demands of the global data center industry.
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Contact chief executive Mike Fuge defends data centre development, saying New Zealand has earned the right to it given the country's renewable energy resources.
Contact Energy has become the second big power company to put its weight behind the development of data centres, which have faced stiff opposition in some parts of the world.
Last month, NZX-listed Mercury NZ invested US$30 million ($53m) in taking a 12.7% stake in Datagrid NZ, the company planning to build a huge data centre at North Makarewa, in Southland.
Today, Contact said it was working with Australia’s CDC Data Centres – half-owned by NZX-listed Infratil – to explore building a 250-megawatt data centre at Stratford, Taranaki, near Contact’s now retired Taranaki Combined Cycle power station.
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